Gluten-Free Fest

More and more readers seem to be suffering from gluten intolerance and asking where they can get a good gluten-free meal (not to mention more information).

Gotta think why this is happening. (Skip ahead if you don't want to think about it.) Early western civilization (e.g. ancient Egypt) was based on grain -- it's the food of the human childhood, following hunting and gathering. So what's happened since to make it unhealthy to so many of us?

Some scientists suspect that over the millennia, agriculture has developed much higher-gluten grains than the Egyptians and Sumerians ever dreamed of. And it's relatively accepted by archeologists that what really convinced those mighty hunters to give up the roamin' life and settle down to farming was the discovery that, ha ha!, grain ferments into BEER.

Even today, many semi-nomadic hunting-gathering cultures, whether in the Amazon or Africa, look to beer as a staple food -- especially for men. And you sure don't need a high-gluten variety for that, like you do for a good bread or a pizza crust.

Anyway, if you're gluten intolerant, this one's for you: The San Diego Gluten-Free Expo (sponsored by a local medical foundation for celiac disease) will be held at the Scottish Rite Center in Mission Valley, November 12, noon - 4 p.m.

The expo offers food samples at each exhibit table, from a great variety of gluten-free food vendors, including local restaurants. There'll also be information tables from local support groups, a raffle for gluten-free products, free goodie-bags with samples of of products and coupons, and a free Gluten-Free Guidebook.

This Guidebook will include lists of restaurants in the San Diego area that address gluten-free customers, information about celiac disease and gluten intolerance, and various resources both locally and online.